Padikasu
Nathar Temple, Azhagaputhur – Religious Significance
Mada Kovils:
Kochengat Chola was
an early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints)
of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a
spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of
the Lord Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his
mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the baby red eyes said
Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which
literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan. After
becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils,
temples with elevated
structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is
believed that this is one of the temple built by him. Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentions about Kochengata
Chola’s worship in one of his hymns praising Lord Shiva of this temple.
Paadal Petra Sthalams:
This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This Temple is the 183rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 66th Sthalam on south side of Cauvery River in Chozha Nadu. This Temple is considered as one of the 44 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the Moovar (the three saints namely Thirugnana Sambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams.
